Smoke rises following Israeli missile strikes on Gaza City last week. Photo / AP
Smoke rises following Israeli missile strikes on Gaza City last week. Photo / AP
Readers share their views on the Israel-Palestine conflict:
World media is having a heyday with the events unfolding in the Gaza Strip in recent times. Perhaps it is time for us to have another insight into the root problem from someone who has seen the facts first-hand.
Post-World WarII, the UN decided to take a chunk of Palestine and gift it to the Jewish people as their new homeland. This brilliant idea in 1948 took land from the indigenous Palestinians and was the catalyst for the new state of Israel to start its grab for more land.
Several conflicts resulted with Israel having the upper hand and more land being stolen from the Palestinians by force of arms provided by the US. That "big-brother" umbrella ensured that all other Arab countries could never match the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) in any military operation.
Way back in my army career I was fortunate enough to be posted to the UN force in the Middle East, initially operating in Southern Lebanon. I saw the effects of the IDF strategy of using airpower and huge artillery barrages to flatten any opposition.
Perhaps I should end this missive with the comment that in my view New Zealand military officers posted to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) have arrived on post with a pro-Israeli view and have returned with a pro-Palestinian view (to my knowledge).
Just prior to my returning to New Zealand I attended a cocktail party hosted by an Israeli major general. He asked me if there was ever another war in the Middle East, would I return. I said "Yes sir, but I would be fighting for the Palestinians." I am now far too old and too infirm, but I still feel the same way. [Abridged]
Israeli firefighters arrive at kibbutz in south Israel hit by rocket fire from Gaza. Photo / AP
Israel's right to defend itself
Israel is a narrow almost indefensible strip of land in the midst of Arab nations, many of which host Iran's proxies (Hamas, Hezbollah, PIJ, Houthis, etc).
Terrorist Islamic groups have as their stated aim the destruction of Israel. They do not recognise her as a nation, do not have her on their maps and they promote misinformation to the media.
Every war Israel has been in since the state was first recognised in 1948 has, in my opinion, been defensive. Islamists in Gaza have bombarded civilian areas of Israel for years with rockets and incendiary devices.
Israel continues to respond with pinpoint attacks on military installations (hidden behind civilians by Hamas).
Israel makes phone calls and other warning measures to civilians in buildings about to be targeted in order to minimise civilian casualties.
Some Hamas rockets did not make it to Israel, but exploded in their own civilian areas. I stand with Israel. She has the right to defend herself, her people have the right to live without the need for bomb shelters in every home. When Hamas stops attacking, Israel will stop retaliating.
